Free Pattern: The Huatau Cropped Dolman Cardigan
The Huatau Cardigan (Māori for graceful) blends simple, modern textures with a touch of hidden complexity. The body is worked in clean stockinette and garter stitch, while the back features a deceptively intricate lace and cable panel, like a beautiful secret waiting to be discovered.
This cropped, dolman-sleeve design is intentionally light and open, making it the perfect effortless layer. Drape it over your shoulders as a shield against a sudden chill, or wear it as a breezy companion to your everyday wardrobe.
Airy, whimsical, and wonderfully graceful, the Huatau Cardigan is designed to make you feel as beautiful as it looks.
✨ Ready to knit something beautiful and satisfying?
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Pattern Information
YARN
Sport/5-ply
Quince & Co Chickadee (100% Wool ; 181 yards / 165 metres / 50 grams)
Substitution info: use an animal-based yarn with lots of elasticity and has a good amount of stitch definition so that the cables stitches can pop!
Yardage (approx): 825 (850, 950, 1075, 1175, 1225, 1350, 1450, 1600, 1750, 1925, 2100, 2425) yards / 750 (775, 875, 975, 1075, 1125, 1225, 1325, 1450, 1600, 1750, 1925, 2200) meters
NEEDLES
US 5 (3.75mm) and US 7 (4.5mm), 32 in./80 cm circular needles or size to obtain gauge.
GAUGE
24 sts and 32 rows over 4 in./10 cm in St. st. with larger needle and after blocking.
NOTIONS
Cable needle
Stitch markers
Darning needle
Abbreviations
approx – approximately
beg - beginning
CO - cast on
CN – cable needle
k- knit
p - purl
pm - place marker
sm - slip marker
m1-l - make one left
m1-r - make one right
k2tog - knit two together
ssk - slip slip knit
yo - yarn over
3/3 RC - slip three sts to cable needle, hold in back, k3, then k3 from CN
3/3 LC - slip three sts to cable needle, hold in front, k3, then k3 from CN
st st – stockinette stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
sm – slip marker
rep - repeat
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
est – established
rnd – round
W&T – wrap and turn
Pattern Instructions
BACK
With larger needle, CO* 92 (98, 104, 110, 116, 122, 134, 146, 158, 170, 182, 186, 198) sts. PM at 25 (28, 31, 34, 37, 40, 46, 52, 58, 64, 70, 72, 78) sts and 67 (70, 73, 76, 79, 82, 88, 94, 100, 106, 112, 114, 120) sts — 42 sts between markers.
*Optional: Use the provisional cast on method instead of the long tail cast on to avoid picking up stitches later on.
RS rows: K until marker, sm, work Lace Chart (starting from row 1), sm, k until end of row.
WS rows: K1, p until marker, sm, work Lace Chart, sm, p until last stitch, k1.
Starting on row 13 (7, 19, 25, 23, 25, 21, 19, 15, 13, 9, 9, 1), work [k2, m1-r, work pattern until last two sts, m1-l, k2] (2 sts increased). Rep this every 4th (4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 6th, 6th, 6th, 6th, 4th, 6th) row 8 (9, 8, 8, 9, 8, 8, 5, 5, 5, 5, 9, 9) more times before moving onto the next steps below.
St Count: 110 (118, 122, 128, 136, 140, 152, 158, 170, 182, 194, 206, 218)
Size 32 only - On the next fourth row, work [k2, m1-r, k2, m1-r, work pattern until last four sts, m1-l, k2, m1-l, k2] (4 sts increased). Rep double increases every other row 3 more times. End on a WS row. All other sizes Every other row, work [k2, m1-r, k2, m1-r, work pattern until last four sts, m1-l, k2, m1-l, k2] (4 sts increased). Rep 4 times total. End on a WS row .
St Count: 126 (134, 138, 144, 152, 156, 168, 174, 185, 198, 210, 222, 234)
View the table on page 10 to help keep track of row and stitch#’s.
All sizes - Work pattern as est. another 54 (54, 58, 62, 64, 66, 70, 76, 82, 86, 92, 96, 102) rows. Place sts on a stitch holder or scrap yarn.
RIGHT FRONT
Using larger needles, CO 14 (15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 27, 34, 38, 44, 50, 50, 56) sts. RS rows: K all sts. WS rows: K1, p until last st, k1.
Starting on row 13 (7, 19, 25, 23, 25, 21, 19, 15, 13, 9, 9, 1), work pattern until last two sts, [m1-l, k2] (1 st increased). Rep this every 4th (4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 6th, 6th, 6th, 6th, 4th, 6th) row 8 (9, 8, 8, 9, 8, 8, 5, 5, 5, 5, 9, 9) more times before moving onto the next steps below.
St count: 23 (25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 40, 44, 50, 56, 60, 66)
Size 32 only - On the next fourth row, work pattern until last four sts, [m1-l, k2, m1-l, k2] (2 sts increased). Rep. this double increase every other row 3 more times. End on a WS row.
All other sizes - Every other row, work pattern until last four sts, [m1-l, k2, m1-l, k2] (2 sts increased). Rep 4 times total. End on a WS row.
St count: 31 (33, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48, 52, 58, 64, 68, 74)
All sizes - Work pattern as est. another 54 (54, 58, 62, 64, 66, 70, 76, 82, 86, 92, 96, 102) rows. Place sts on a stitch holder or scrap yarn.
LEFT FRONT
Using larger needles, CO 14 (15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 27, 34, 38, 44, 50, 50, 56) sts.
RS rows: K all stitches.
WS rows: K1, p until last st, k1.
Starting on row 13 (7, 19, 25, 23, 25, 21, 19, 15, 13, 9, 9, 1), [k2, m1-r, work pattern] (1 st increased). Repeat this every 4th (4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 6th, 6th, 6th, 6th, 4th, 6th) row 8 (9, 8, 8, 9, 8, 8, 5, 5, 5, 5, 9, 9) more times before moving onto the next steps below.
St count: 23 (25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 40, 44, 50, 56, 60, 66)
Size 32 only - On the next fourth row, [k2, m1-r, k2, m1-r, work pattern] (2 sts increased). Rep. this double increase every other row 3 more times. End on a WS row. All other sizes Every other row, [k2, m1-r, k2, m1-r, work pattern] (2 sts increased). Rep 4 times total. End on a WS row..
St count: 31 (33, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48, 52, 58, 64, 68, 74)
All sizes - Work pattern as est. another 54 (54, 58, 62, 64, 66, 70, 76, 82, 86, 92, 96, 102) rows. Place sts on a stitch holder or scrap yarn.
BINDING OFF
Use the three needle BO to seam the front pieces to the back at shoulders – 31 (33, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48, 52, 58, 64, 68, 74) sts for each shoulder. BO the 64 (68, 70, 72, 76, 76, 80, 78, 82, 82, 82, 86, 86) sts of the middle section.
Optional: slip these middle sts of the back panel onto a stitch holder or long circular needle to avoid picking up these stitches later on.
SEAMING
Seam the sides starting from the bottom of garment until the underarms using the mattress stitch.
SLEEVE BANDS
Using smaller 16in. / 40 cm needle, starting at underarm seam, pick up 52 (52, 56, 60, 62, 64, 68, 74, 80, 84, 90, 94, 100) sts on each side. Work (k1, p1) ribbing for 1” / 2.5 cm. BO using the tubular bind off. Rep for the next sleeve.
COLLAR
On smaller 32 in. / 80 cm needle, starting at the center back of the top of the garment and RS facing, pick up 32 (34, 35, 36, 38, 38, 40, 39, 41, 4,1, 41, 43, 43) sts, pm (this is marker 1), 81 (81, 91, 98, 101, 99, 99, 101, 102, 104, 105, 113, 125) sts on the side of the left front, pm (marker 2), 116 (124, 134, 144, 152, 164, 184, 210, 230, 254, 278, 282, 306) sts along the bottom edge*, pm (marker 3), 81 (81, 91, 98, 101, 99, 99, 101, 102, 104, 105, 113, 125) sts on the side of the right front, pm (marker 4), 32 (34, 35, 36, 38, 38, 40, 39, 41, 4,1, 41, 43, 43) sts to the center back again, pm (beginning of rnd marker) and join to work in the rnd.
Total sts: 342 (354, 386, 412, 430, 438, 462, 490, 516, 544, 570, 594, 642).
*Note: you’ll be picking up 3 sts for every 4 rows on the sides, and 1 st for every stitch on the bottom and top. If you don’t pick up the same amount of sts on the bottom and top edges, it is not a big deal. However on the sides, it is crucial to pick up that amount of sts in order to work the short rows later on.
Work garter stitch in the rnd (1 rnd knit and 1 rnd purl) with the smaller needle for 2 in. / 5 cm. End completing a purl round.
NECK SHORT ROW SHAPING
Knit from the beginning of the row until 7 (8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9) sts before marker 1. W&T and knit until 7 (8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9) sts before marker 4.
* W&T and knit until 7 (8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9) sts before last W&T stitch. Rep from * 5 more times, W&T, then k all stitches.
FRONT FACING SHAPING
Switch to larger sized needles, knit from the beg of the row until 3 sts from marker 4. W&T and knit until 3 sts from marker 1.
* W&T and knit until 3 sts from last wrap. W&T and knit until 3 sts from last wrap. *
Rep between * and * 7 (7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10, 11) more times (there will be 9 (9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 12, 13) wraps on each side). On last wrap you will be between markers 1 and 2. Knit to beg of the rnd - there is no need to pick up the wraps between markers 3 and 4. Purl one round - pick up the wraps between markers 1 and 2 if you are getting holes on the purl round.
FINISHING
Use the I-cord bind off and wash and block again. Lay flat to dry. Weave in ends.
Stitch Patterns & Charts
LACE PATTERN
Row 1 (RS): P1, k6, p2, k4, k2tog, k2, yo, k5, yo, k2, ssk, k2, yo, k2, ssk, k1, p2, k6, p1.
Row 2 and all WS rows: P all purl and yo sts, k all knit sts.
Row 3: P1, 3/3 RC, p2, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k2, yo, k2, ssk, p2, 3/3 LC, p1.
Row 5: P1, k6, p2, *k2, k2tog, k2, yo* x 2, k3, yo, k2, ssk, k5, p2, k6, p1.
Row 7: P1, k6, p2, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k2, yo, k5, yo, k2, ssk, k4, p2, k6, p1.
Row 9: P1, k6, p2, k2tog, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k2, yo, k2, ssk, k3, p2, k6, p1.
Row 11: P1, 3/3 RC, p2, k5, k2tog, k2, yo, k3, *yo, k2, ssk, k2* x 2, p2, 3/3 LC, p1.
Row 13: P1, k6, p2, k4, k2tog, k2, yo, k5, yo, k2, ssk, k2, yo, k2, ssk, k1, p2, k6, p1.
Row 15: P1, k6, p2, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k2, yo, k2, ssk, p2, k6, p1.
Row 17: P1, k6, p2, *k2, k2tog, k2, yo* x 2, k3, yo, k2, ssk, k5, p2, k6, p1.
Row 19: P1, 3/3 RC, p2, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k2, yo, k5, yo, k2, ssk, k4, p2, 3/3 LC, p1.
Row 21: P1, k6, p2, k2tog, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k2, yo, k2, ssk, k3, p2, k6, p1.
Row 23: P1, k6, p2, k5, k2tog, k2, yo, k3, *yo, k2, ssk, k2* x 2, p2, k6, p1.
Row 24: P all purl and yo stitches, k all knit stitches.
